Disney’s Hollywood Studios Extreme Makeover

There’s been a lot of talk recently about Team Disney Orlando’s slow realization that they have not one, but two under performing parks. In the past they could have skated by on the coat tails of the two main parks, but with growing competition from other parks in the region, that’s no longer possible. Each park has to draw a full days worth of guests on its own. To that end, Avatar has been marked for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the rumor is that Disney’s Hollywood Studios is next up on the makeover list. Perhaps even an extreme makeover.

Therefore, I’m officially throwing my hat in ring with my script for Extreme Makeover: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Edition. Yes, I realize this is way out there in terms of possibility and there is no chance that the current management team would even consider doing something this extreme, but I think it would result in a much more enjoyable all day park.

The first change is to give us some more real estate. I’d move the main entrance road a good 250 yards or so away from its current location and start work on two new parking lots to hold the cars that will be coming to see the amazing new park when its completed.

Secondly, I’d ditch the parking lot trams, they’re loud, offer no protection from the elements, and are never there when you need them. The replacement? A classic Disney mode of transportation – Peoplemovers (J). You could even go so far as building a Heathrow Airport style of podcars here and extend one run out to the Boardwalk area or even EPCOT.

The boat dock would switch sides (H) because the main entrance (A) would move to about where the parade warehouses is now. Buena Vista Street (B) would be installed like a California Adventure. The Red Cars would lead into Walt’s Hollywood (C) which keeps the current Sunset Blvd and puts a new kids land themed to Oswald and other early Disney creations, including Mickey and Minnie, in the former disabled and bus lots.

Rock-n-Roller coaster ditches the geezer band and replaces it with The Incredibles. The rest of the land is themed to Super Heroes. Disney could either draw upon Marvel’s vast catalog or pay off Universal and acquire the theme park rights to the Avenger characters. This would be a thrill focused section of the park.

Pixar Studios (E) would be expanded to take over the current backlot and Lights Motors Action area. Radiator Springs Racers and the town of Radiator Springs would also be added to this area.

The Muppets would break out of their theater and add a travel themed adventure through the former show building of the Great Movie Ride and the whole land around them would become the Muppet Studios (F).

In Star Wars Land (G) Star Tours would actually take you to Endor. Guests would exit the attraction and enter a Star Wars themed land. The main addition would be a speeder bike themed attraction across the moon of Endor. There would also be a Star Wars themed dinner show and a few Jedi Academy themed attractions.

So ‘jeah(tm)’, I know this will never happen. But my point is that Disney’s Hollywood Studios has the potential to become a great park. A lot of different themes fit within it its boundaries. The park has to grow beyond its history as an operating studio and become something more capable of competing with modern parks that rely as much on unique experiences as they do on storytelling.

10 thoughts on “Disney’s Hollywood Studios Extreme Makeover”

Huzzah to all of this. I’m assuming step zero would be to demolish that awful hat, as well.

I’d love to see the original Great Muppet Movie Ride concept come back to life in some way. How is Disney feeling about the Muppets in general after the movie’s performance? Do they have any extra suction (as they’d say on The Wire)?

I do enjoy the small park feeling though. I was totally in love with Disney-MGM when I visited back in the early 90s. I really enjoyed the look and feel, the new-park smell, the smaller crowds, the old-school Hollywood vibe.

But yeah, it needs a little more excitement, some updated elements and some new rides and attractions.

1. YES! A DHS version of Carsland + An expanded Pixar presence, with some kind of dark ride or roller coaster.
3. Import the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride from Mysterious Island at DisneySea Tokyo.
4. YES! Avengers/Marvel land with Stunt Show (or some kind of interactive show).
5. YES! Expanded LucasFilm area. I like Star Tours the way it is, so how about importing the Indiana Jones ride from DL and changing the stunt show to a Clone Wars show instead?
6. YES! More Muppet goodness!
7. And if Disney can successfully reboot The Rocketeer, he’d be right at home at DHS.
7. And can we please move the Sorcerers Hat and stop blocking my view of the Chinese Theater? Especially if you relocate the entrance, right?

My roommate and I have talked about this. They need to do more with the Marvel stuff. They need to expand the Star Wars area and put in one more ride of some sort. They do need to expand the Muppets, and have the characters out for meet-and-greets. They need to replace the Indy stunt show with the Disneyland Indy ride. They need to get rid of Lights, Motors, Action! and replace it with an expanded Pixar Place. They need more kid friendly rides at DHS. They also need to put in parking garages, instead of expanding the lots. Not only would it be easier for guests, but most cars would be sheltered from the blazing sun, so they aren’t so hot inside at the end of the day.

More kid-friendly rides are definitely needed. We just returned to NY from a Disney trip (our 2nd this year), and two of our boys didn’t even want to go to DHS. They opted for a 3rd day at Magic Kingdom instead. Although I’d hate to see the Great Movie Ride go – we love it!

“ditches the geezer band”. LOL! I don’t have anything to add, although I am a big fan of the Muppets and would love to see that expand. I think there’s enough at this park for small kids if you do it right. But if we’re talking expansion – a Pixar area could certainly encompass more little kid stuff – I would love a giant bounce house in the form of “Boo’s” room from Monsters.

I’ve said Many times before they need to do something with Streets of America. Its really just a street. nothing to special about it.
Change it to Streets of New York and Make it Marvel themed.
Since that’s where most marvel heroes live.